Chapter 412: Slots and Fire

Wait three days… will it even be timely enough?

Unexpectedly, the bandaged woman who had been friendly refused to act; worried about the hospital's situation, Li Ang clenched his teeth and lowered his head, trying to plead again:

"If you're willing to help, I can…"

"Sorry, this isn't about the price."

Interrupting Li Ang, the woman covered in bandages shook her head, her expression regretful:

"The reason I've survived six years in the Clearance Bureau is because I never act without certainty."

"I sympathize with your plight, but I have my reasons for never taking unnecessary risks—I hope you understand my decision."

"…"

Understand? Of course I understand—what else can I do if I don't? Drag you there by force?

After hearing her unyielding refusal, Li Ang helplessly loosened his grip.

Though it sounded cold, she was right—she had no obligation to risk herself for his sake—but what about Anna?

Right now, I could still return to the hospital and extract Anna before this so-called "Uncontrolled Contaminant" causes a major incident.

But if that nurse was telling the truth, stopping her medication and taking her away now would mean she'd spend the rest of her life bedridden—likely unable to even do chores like laundry or cooking.

These past years, her lung illness has already burdened the family terribly; given her outwardly gentle, obedient but inwardly stubborn nature, if she realized she'd become a complete burden…

"Kid, don't you dare back out on your deal!"

As Li Ang wrestled between two choices, hesitating whether to extract Anna, the black goat in his arms twisted its neck uncomfortably and warned him anxiously:

"We agreed—you help us find someone, and we get cigarettes! We found the person for you; if she won't help, that's her problem—but you still owe us every single cigarette!"

"…"

Right—there's still this thing!

As if spotting a straw floating past, Li Ang's eyes suddenly lit up; he grabbed the goat's head, frantic:

"What about you? Can you handle this? If you can, as long as I'm still working in the Clearance Bureau, I'll buy you a pack of 'Gao Te' every week!"

Tch… again with this crap… are we giving you too much leeway?

Upon hearing Li Ang's offer, the black goat's face darkened with irritation.

Kid! You don't actually think I helped you find her just for your cigarettes, do you? I'm a great demon—do you think I'd care about a cheap pack that costs three silver wheels?

Listen! If it weren't for that red-haired bitch liking you, even if you knelt down and begged me to take your soul, I wouldn't even bother, you understand?

"At least three packs!"

"Deal!"

Damn! Too little!

With a disgruntled grimace, the black goat cursed himself for being weak-willed, then sighed heavily and shoved himself deeper into Li Ang's arms.

Sigh… why do I always fall for this?

And right now, with this goat head and goat brain of mine, I can't even rob anyone—I might not only fail to get money but end up getting boiled alive, leaving me with not even a copper wheel to buy a pack of cigarettes.

Damn! Just thinking about it makes me furious! That red-haired bitch isn't poor, but as soon as her salary comes in every week, she spends it all on horse piss—not a single copper wheel left for me!

Once I've smoked enough to gather enough power to turn things around, I'll smash every tavern in the royal capital—and the perfume factories that make alcohol-scented stuff too! Let that bitch drink not even a single hair's worth!

As the black goat silently swore vengeance in his mind, he gathered his dwindling strength and left a demonic mark on Li Ang's chest, granting him the right to "use" him. At the same time, familiar static crackled again in Li Ang's ear.

"Zzzz"

【First acquired usable anomaly: Hidden trait of the Chromatic Badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson)" activated】

【Materialist Soul (Chromatic · Crimson · Non-upgradable): …】

【Wearing Effect: …】

【Advancement Path: …】

【Hidden Trait: Badge Slot +1, Current Slot Count: 4, Anomalies Required to Unlock Next Slot: 2】

Accompanied by a mechanical chime, the virtual interface—previously with only three slots—rolled slightly, revealing a fourth slot; a pale green badge shaped like a goat's head and horns was already embedded within.

【Gained usage rights to the anomaly "Demon's Horn," successfully activated the Bronze Badge "Demon's Favored"】

【Demon's Favored (Bronze): After completing a filthy, despicable transaction and agreeing to perform an extreme evil sacrifice weekly, you have earned the favor of a high-ranking demon】

【Wearing Effect: Increased affinity with anomalies marked "Corrupted," slightly reducing usage cost while greatly enhancing effect】

【Advancement Path: Without being discovered by the previous owner of "Demon's Horn," Olvia, complete ten agreed-upon evil sacrifices; this badge will automatically upgrade to the Silver Badge "Demon's Friend," current progress: 1/10】

【Hidden Trait (No Equipment Required): Your soul has been tainted with a trace of demonic essence, making you more noticeable to certain evil entities】

【Your contamination value has increased】

【Current contamination value: 0. 】

…

"Hssss… kid… you're actually kinda my type!"

Lying in Li Ang's slightly uncomfortable arms, feeling the "like fish in water" harmony, the black goat lifted his head, astonished:

"Back then, under those circumstances, you managed to hold back and not slit that fat guy from the Road Administration's throat—I thought you were some kind of moral stickler, figured we'd never get along.

But judging by our compatibility, you're clearly no saint! Not outright evil, sure, but you're definitely not carrying good intentions—haven't you done your fair share of cheating, swindling, and lying?"

"…"

Our compatibility is due to the badge's effect—I've been a law-abiding citizen all two of my lives!

Though his long-standing integrity was unjustly accused, Li Ang's mind remained clear—he wouldn't reveal his secret to a demon.

After holding the chattering goat head and sensing it for a moment, Li Ang was stunned to discover he'd temporarily gained the ability to peer into souls.

Centered on the goat head in his hands, thousands of flickering, faint "flames" suddenly glowed across a radius of roughly two kilometers.

Hatred, betrayal, deception, envy, rage… countless cold, dark, soul-scorching malice—like blue phosphorescent ghosts drifting through a graveyard at midnight—appeared as scattered points before Li Ang's eyes.

As long as he focused his attention, he could pierce through layers of concrete and brick to directly see the burning malice within each "flame."

Li Ang even felt a strange premonition: if he simply reached out and plucked one, those cold, poisonous flames would instantly surge, burning away all reason, turning the originally pale-gray souls pitch-black—ten times darker than charred coal!

(End of Chapter)